Christmas Reason

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It is that time of year when we think of cool weather, gift giving, family time, and a few days off from the workaday world.  For those of us who live in warmer climates, it could be that we can sneak out for a few miles on the roads or in the woods on our scooters. 

All good, these things. 

There is one more thing about this season, though that is paramount.  The reason for our celebrating in the first place.  It is the birth of Jesus Christ around 2000 years ago.  Christ is God's son and his teachings are fundamental to our lives now, and into eternity. 

It is at this special time of year, that we would do well to hear the Christmas story once again.
The prophet Isaiah wrote about the coming of Jesus to earth about seven hundred years beforehand:

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and The Government shall be upon His Shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty GOD, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His Government and peace there shall be no end, upon the Throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will perform this. 

A physician named Luke wrote of the birth about thirty years after Jesus' death:

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with Child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the LORD came upon them, and the glory of the LORD shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into Heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the LORD hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, His Name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Around thirty-three years after Jesus' birth, he was killed by crucifixion, laid in a borrowed tomb for three days, then arose from death.  He was seen by multitudes here on earth after that. 

If you don't know Jesus Christ as your living savior, then find a church that preaches from the Bible, and where they believe that it is the inerrant word recorded by writers inspired by God.

They can explain the wonder of the birth of Jesus Christ and what it means to you and me. All you have to do to go to heaven after you die is to believe what happened to Him, and to ask Jesus to be your savior.
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Merry Christmas to all, and happy riding in the new year.	. . .	. .

Water Pump -- Again!

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Well, I got done with the stator installation, the battery replacement, and the front tire install.  I went for a ride long enough to prove out the stator/battery work and to scuff in the front tire -- a couple of hundred miles or so.

I felt very good about the repairs, and parked the bike in the garage for the night.

Next morning, I found this:

I pointed menacingly to the oil spot on the floor as if scolding a pet that had messed on the floor.

Surely my [pet] motorcycle would not have done such a thing in my otherwise spotless garage. 

I peeked at the engine through the openings in the cowling and found the front of the engine and the inside of the cowlings defiled by an oily, dirty mess spread over a considerable area.

"What have I done wrong with the stator installation?" I asked myself.   It turned out that I didn't do anything wrong over there.  The stator cover is a considerable distance from the oil I was looking at here.  The wind pressure during my 200-mile ride would have caused the left side of the engine, and well behind this, to be oily.

Well, if not that, what? 

I removed the bottom fairings, and wiped down the engine so I could see where the oil was coming from.  I ran the motor until hot, and I couldn't see anything.  (Naturally, it never acts up when you need it to.)

I looked at the oil filter, since I'd just installed it, but didn't see anything leaking there either. 

Finally, I saw some oil coming out of the water pump weep hole.  Just a little, mind you, but oil nonetheless. 

The general neighborhood of the leak.

Closer up view of the vent with the oil wiped away.

The water pump oil seal was apparently leaking.  On this machine, there is a shaft driven by the innards of the engine, that extends out through an oil seal, then a coolant seal to drive the coolant pump impeller.  Between the two seals is a weep hole to the outside. 

That weep hole, by the way, can show both oil and coolant leakage.  The oil side of the water pump drive has an elastomeric shaft seal and the coolant side has a ceramic face seal.  If either of them leak, the leakage comes out of the weep hole.  This design also prevents coolant and oil from mixing should there be a leak between them. 

I had had this trouble before, at 41,000 miles.  Back then it was coolant, so I replaced the coolant seal, buttoned it up again, and it was fine for a short time.  Then the oil seal began to leak and I had to do the repair all over again. 

Now, at 66,000, it has begun leaking oil again, so this time I will replace all the seals at the same time, so I don't have to repeat the task.  . 

I got on the Internet and began looking for the best deal on parts.  I ended up at Ron Ayers Motorsports.

My needs were a bit more pedestrian than stocking stuffers.

I bought the following for my 2006 Ninja 650R:

• 49063-1055 ceramic face seal $11.65
• 59256-0007 water pump impeller (in case the old plastic one was stuck and I broke it getting it apart) $20.92
• 92049-1259 oil seal $4.27
• 92055-0082 case O-ring $1.74
• 92055-0083 pump housing seal $4.32
• 92055-1155 pump cover seal $7.38

The total was $61.68 including a whopping $11.40 shipping charge. 

I punched the order button, and the parts were in my hands two days later.  I began the repair.

I removed the right Inner Cowling for access to the coolant expansion reservoir and radiator cap.  I drained the coolant and removed the five screws holding the pump cover (be careful not to lose the two dowels in the cover).  Then I took the impeller screw out (Put the bike in gear and hold the rear brake to be sure you can apply sufficient torque to the screw.) and the impeller came off the shaft easily.  So, I didn't need to buy that expensive new impeller, it turned out.   Next, I pulled the housing (one more dowel there).  The housing is a very thin aluminum die casting, so be careful not to bend it when removing and handling it.

This is what's left after all that is removed. 

I checked the pump drive shaft for radial clearance that might have caused the seal to fail, but could not detect any. 

I cleaned everything with a rag, then with brake cleaner -- outside to avoid the fumes.

The oil seal can be easily removed from the housing by prying it out with a screw driver.

The cup side of the ceramic face seal for coolant is a different matter.  It is pressed into the housing and there is a sealant on the outside of the seal cup that not only prevents leakage there, but tends to lock the cup in tightly.  I set up a makeshift press using two sockets and my bench vice.

The socket on the left side is bearing on the housing.  The inside diameter of that socket is just slightly larger than the outside diameter of the seal cup flange.  Make sure it is properly centered on the seal before applying force with the vice. 

The outside diameter of the socket on the right is just slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the housing bore that holds the seal cup.

Check all of your metric and English sockets to find the best fits.  If you bend the housing, you will have to replace it to the tune of about $35. 


The coolant seal cup came loose with only moderate force.  I further cleaned the housing with brake cleaner.

I pressed the coolant seal cup flange into the housing using a flat piece of hardwood and a socket on the opposite side to support the housing.

the oil seal is similarly pressed into place with a piece of hardwood.  Its face is to be flush with the highest part of the housing on that side.  It is not to be even with the four recesses. 

The mating half of the coolant seal is contained in the back of the impeller.  It is easily removed with a screw driver.  I opened the envelope containing the new impeller and was surprised to find that it is a nicely-machined aluminum die casting.  The original was plastic.  That is why I was afraid of damaging it during removal. 

I went ahead and installed the new one.  I'll keep the old one as a spare (though I don't expect to wear out or break the new impeller).  The coolant seal is an easy finger press fit into the back of the impeller.

I carefully applied a bit of grease to the various O-ring seals and to the oil seal lip.  The grease lubricates the seal, but it serves to prevent the O-rings from falling out of position when reassembling the pump.  Do not apply grease to the coolant seal faces. 

Clean both faces of the coolant seal with a high flash point solvent.  I used a little brake cleaner on a clean rag.  I carefully wiped both faces, then applied a drop of coolant to both faces to provide the initial lubrication. 

I threaded the oil seal in the pump housing onto the shaft, and pushed the housing against the mating face on the engine.  The one dowel aligns this.  The impeller slips onto the shaft, and the screw securing it is tightened to 87 in-lb.  Again put the bike in gear and hold the rear brake to be sure you can apply sufficient torque to the screw.

The cover went on next (with the two dowels) and the screws were tightened in a star pattern to 87 in-lb.

I reconnected the coolant hose, filled it up with coolant and ran the engine, topped off the radiator when partially warmed up, installed the radiator pressure cap, filled the overflow reservoir to the F mark (with the bike standing upright), and continued running the engine until the cooling fan came on.  Once cool, I rechecked the coolant level in the overflow and set it between the F and L marks with the bike upright. I reinstalled the cowlings so everything looks nice again.  For the time being, I left off the Inner Cowling so I could top off the coolant expansion tank if necessary. 

I was ready for a test ride.




But....

It turned cold, and I didn't have time to go out for a couple of weeks.




Then this:

Phooie!

So I decided to use the time to put on my hand muffs for the winter riding season.  They really help keep the hands warm in concert with the heated grips.

This winter I selected the Ducks Unlimited pair instead of the Hippo Hands brand.  They look better on this type of bike, though they don't protect as well as the larger Hippo Hands. 

When the snow goes away, I'll go out and test the water pump -- and enjoy warm hands!

Maybe I'll see you out there.
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Stator, Battery, and Front Tire

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Well, it happened.  The stator in the alternator failed, as they tend to do in Ninja 650Rs.  Mine got me almost to 66,000 miles, so I am pretty happy.  It also didn't just let me down in the middle of nowhere, fortunately.

The stator is wired in a three phase pattern, and one of the phases was not producing an output voltage. 

I think the failure is right where the burned place is in the photograph below.

That failure made the stator produce less power to recharge the battery and run lights, ignition, fuel injection, and accessories.  I noticed that occasionally the horn was not very loud and the trip odometers and clock would sometimes reset to zero when starting the engine.  I tested the stator according to the Kawasaki manual and found the problem.

The stator OEM part number is 21003-0042 for my 2006 and others.  I bought a new stator from grimcycles on ebay, and it got here in about a week.  It looks good and fit fine.  More importantly, it now produces the full power that it should.  That cost me $144.95 for the part, shipped.  My labor, as usual, is free.

I changed the oil and filter as long as I was in there.  You lose most of the oil when opening the stator cover if you do it with the side stand instead of a rear stand.  If you use the latter, you only lose about a quart.  It needed changing anyway, so that was fine.  I use Mobil 1 and a Kawasaki-brand filter. 

The procedure to change the stator is well documented here.  I reused the stator cover gasket.  It is not metal, but it is sufficiently sturdy if you are careful handling it.  Use silicone sealant only around the wire passthrough, not on the entire gasket. 


I buttoned up the engine, filled it will oil, started it up and found that the charging voltage at 4000 RPM was correct at 14.6 volts.


I went for a ride, and the symptoms of the weak horn and disappearing odometer reading persisted!

Now what?

Well, I tested the battery after it had been on trickle charge overnight and found its voltage to be lower than it should be.

That is an indication of a bad battery.  I last replaced the battery in late 2012, almost 30,000 miles ago.  That time, I replaced it with the same as OEM, a Yuasa YTX12-BS.  I did the same this time, and found it only a few dollars higher than six years ago at $59.88, shipped from Amazon seller Avid Cycles.  It got here in a few days, I filled it, charged it, and everything works fine now.


Oh, wait a minute.  What about the tire I mentioned?   Well my front tire was about worn out so I sent away to Sportbike Track Gear for a fresh Michelin Pilot Road 4.  They had the lowest price of $146, shipped when I used an $8 rebate from previous purchases there.  I took it to the local Foothills Powersports dealer to be mounted and balanced for $37.  The worn out tire had 10,500 miles on it and the resulting cost per mile was $0.018 over its life.  Even at as long a life as I get because I ride sedately, tires are a significant expense of owning a motorcycle. 


So I have two good tires, and an electrical system that works properly now.  The whole escapade cost about $390.  This motorcycling isn't cheap!


I might say, though, that this bike has been very reliable over its life.  I never abuse it, so that probably contributes to its longevity.

The other major issues -- besides routine service -- have been the fuel pump failure, the loose kickstand, and the water pump seal failure at 41,000 miles.  I have done all of the maintenance and repair myself, so the costs were much lower than if I had to take it into a mechanic each time. 

Not too bad for an elderly ride like mine.

Hope to see you on the road!
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Veterans Day -- A Salute to Those Who Fought for Our Freedom

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Veterans Day  
(from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:

Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and

Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and

Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."

On that same day, President Eisenhower sent a letter to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs (VA), designating him as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee.
In 1958, the White House advised VA's General Counsel that the 1954 designation of the VA Administrator as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee applied to all subsequent VA Administrators. Since March 1989 when VA was elevated to a cabinet level department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has served as the committee's chairman.

The Uniform Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.

The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

If you see a veteran, take a minute to thank him for his service, and for his helping preserve our freedom.  
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What is at Risk November 6th?

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Election day is coming upon us rapidly, and this election is very important to our future -- yours and mine. 

If the Democrats take over the House or Senate, then everything Mr. Trump has accomplished in two years will be lost.  If you would like to see a list of those accomplishments, then look here. 

And remember, Mr. Trump campaigned on many issues.  At that time, it was just talk.

Now, two years later, we can see that he has achieved many of those promises. 

So what do we as citizens stand to lose? 

Here is the short list:

• Lowest unemployment in years, and in some cases, in history.  The tax cuts, new incentives to business, and the reduction in regulations would be wiped out along with those jobs that have been created.  Democrats have vowed that they will reverse all this to take money out of your pocket. 
  Read this.  

• Our sovereignty.  In plain language, illegal immigrants are set to invade us, and more are on the way.  These are able-bodied young men with almost no women and few children.  These are not refugees, nor are they seeking asylum.  If we let them in, they will become a surge of Democrat voters who will never again vote in a Republican to any office.  They will take our jobs, use our health care system without paying, bring in disease, increase gang activity, and allow terrorists free entry to destroy us. 
  If you think this is not true, then why is the latest wave of illegals waving the flags of the countries they claim they want to leave?  See this story.  

Other risks of electing Democrats:

·        Your right to bear arms would be threatened, preventing law-abiding citizens from defending themselves, their families, and their property. 

·        Health care would be even less affordable than Obamacare is now.  …and watch out for what Democrats are calling “Medicare for All.”  It is a way to provide health care for more people, but made possible by taking away health care benefits from the rest of us. 

·        Democrats not only would destroy a good man and his family, but our entire nation to gain power for themselves.  The recent Supreme Court hearings are an example of the power the Democrats so desperately don’t want to lose.  They would destroy a good man at any cost and destroy our nation to regain power for themselves. 

These things affect everybody, including ordinary blokes like you and me.  Our standard of living would fall, and more of us would be stuck without jobs or in lower-paying jobs.  Many more would have to go back on welfare, supported by those who are still working.  

Don’t let that happen.  Vote Republican on election day.  

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We Must NEVER Forget 911

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We must never forget what Islamist terrorists
did to us in 2001.  

Think it was just isolated to 9/11/2001?  


It was not.  We are still in danger from these people.  



 Here is a page that shows all of the 104 terrorist attacks and threats since 9/11.  
Note that this page has not been updated, except for the graphic that looks like this: 

Scroll to the right in the graphic in the link above to see each specific incident.  


 "This graphic does not include activities that are merely linked to terrorism, such as traveling abroad to join a terrorist organization.  Each plot requires some threat directed at the U.S. homeland. Additionally, to be included, the primary motivation of the terror plot or attack must be a radical Islamist ideology, which supports the use of violence as a means to achieve the long-run objective of imposing Islamic law."  


All attacks were committed by Islamist terrorists.  

If you have forgotten the devastation on our own soil of the 9/11 attacks, look here for a short review.   The blood shed by over 3000 people is not visible in the photos. 

NOT ONE of the five masterminds of the 9/11 attack have been brought to justice, some 17 years later!  


We must stand strong against these terrorists and our sympathetic politicians forever and always, lest the freedom of this greatest country on earth be lost forever. 

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July 4, 1776

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In between your morning ride on the bike, your afternoon of hot dogs at the lake, and your evening of fireworks, consider the real meaning of the day we celebrate.

A History of Independence Day
from the History Channel

When the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain, and those who did were considered radical.

By the middle of the following year, however, many more colonists had come to favor independence, thanks to growing hostility against Britain and the spread of revolutionary sentiments such as those expressed in the bestselling pamphlet “Common Sense,” published by Thomas Paine in early 1776.

On June 7, when the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, the Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies’ independence.

Amid heated debate, Congress postponed the vote on Lee’s resolution, but appointed a five-man committee – including Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York – to draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain.

On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of Lee’s resolution for independence in a near-unanimous vote (the New York delegation abstained, but later voted affirmatively). On that day, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that July 2 “will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival” and that the celebration should include “Pomp and Parade…Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.”

On July 4th, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, which had been written largely by Jefferson. Though the vote for actual independence took place on July 2nd, from then on the 4th became the day that was celebrated as the birth of American independence.

Our freedom comes from that document declaring our independence and from our Constitution, both so masterfully crafted by the patriots who came before us. 

Enjoy your day!

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No Drone Zone at Caesars Head

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I rode up to Caesars Head a few weeks ago.

Caesars Head is a South Carolina State Park, 26 miles from home, and it is fairly easy to get to.  The twisty road that goes up the Blue Ridge Escarpment to the park is only about eight miles long, and is in fairly good condition in most places.  The twisty part of the road is not nearly as long as on the nearby US-178, but there are several tight turns along the way. 

Caesars Head

Twisty part of US-178

The reason I went to Caesars Head was that it was an easy addition to a route that I rode called A Two Hour Afternoon's Jaunt that had appeared in an issue of the old and gone Motorcycle Lifestyle Magazine. 

Anyway, the overlook at Caesars Head (that is correct; there is not an apostrophe in Caesars) is usually a good place to see the mountainous countryside from a birds-eye vantage point.  That photograph at the top of the post gives you an idea. 

Pretty country, yes?  Here is a slightly different angle:

You can see the back side of Table Rock Mountain, with Table Rock Reservoir this side of it.  This overlook is really the only place you can see into the distance from Caesars Head Park, and the overlook is very close to where you can park your bike.

As I was parking that day, I noticed something new.  

Did you spot it?  Here is a closer view:

Now do you see?

It says I can't fly my drone here any more.  (Not that I have one.)  It is mounted on a very substantial post. 

That's unfortunate, because I like to see videos of places like this taken from a drone.  Some of the drone pilots are quite good at getting the right views and motion, and their editing can be very effective in enhancing their work.

Like these: 

• This one is nice and simple, by Russel Stieb from January of 2015.  Look at the sheer dropoff from the observation area.  
• This one, by Matt Motter Aero Vision, published in August of 2016 has particularly good music, and includes Symmes Chapel or Pretty Place, an open-air chapel north of the park at YMCA Camp Greenville. 
• Maybe this one as well, a short by Greenville Drone also from August of 2016. 

There are some large houses adjacent to the park, and I suppose some of those residents could have been buzzed by some irresponsible pilot.  If that is the case, there are probably civil actions that could be taken against the pilot, instead of banning drones entirely. 

I did a little research and found that drones are outlawed in all national parks.  Citing safety and noise issues, drones are banned until the National Park Service comes up with a long-term policy.  [I wonder how long that could take.]  The ban covers not only the 59 full-fledged national parks but about 350 national monuments, seashores and other sites run by the NPS, about 84 million acres in all.

That is a lot of territory now off limits. 

Seems like our freedom is again under attack here.

Oh, by the way, the ban carries a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine and six months in jail!

Try this website called Know Before You Fly to learn some of the rules.   


For recreational use, you can fly under the Special Rule for Model Aircraft:

• Fly for hobby or recreation ONLY
• Register your model aircraft
• Fly within visual line-of-sight
• Follow community-based safety guidelines and fly within the programming of a nationwide community-based organization
• Fly a drone under 55 lbs. unless certified by a community-based organization
• Never fly near other aircraft
• Notify the airport and air traffic control tower prior to flying within 5 miles of an airport*
• Never fly near emergency response efforts

Or, you can get a Remote Pilot Certification (14 CFR part 107).  For that, you must:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Pass an aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA-approved knowledge testing center
• Undergo Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) security screening
• Register your aircraft with the FAA

Part 107 Operating Rules:

• Unmanned aircraft must weigh less than 55 pounds, including payload, at takeoff
• Fly in Class G airspace
• Keep the unmanned aircraft within visual line-of-sight
• Fly at or below 400 feet
• Fly during daylight or civil twilight
• Fly at or under 100 mph
• Yield right of way to manned aircraft
• Do not fly directly over people
• Do not fly from a moving vehicle, unless in a sparsely populated area

If you fly for commercial purposes, then the rules are different.


Whew.  That is a lot of hoops to jump through just to fly a little airplane.  I think that the regulations include all of the model planes that many of us flew when we were kids (and now, sometimes as adults, too, like I saw back in 2014).  

As I said, I think our freedoms are being encroached upon. 

For state regulations, you can look here or here, but know that these websites may not be completely up to date.

Local municipalities may also have rules and regulations, so you will have to contact them to find out what they require.


Anyhow, our freedom to do almost anything is getting cut more and more these days.  So, fly 'em while ya' can.  (But not at Caesars Head.) 

Fortunately, the park is still a nice place to go to look at God's creation. 
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Odd Sights I've Seen -- One in Minnesota(!), and a Bear's Head Nearer Home

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As I ride around the Upstate of South Carolina, western North Carolina, and eastern Georgia, I sometimes spot unusual sights along the way.  Some of these are simply new to me, but others are strange and out of the ordinary.

Here are a couple of recent examples, all from the same day of riding:

1.

This is a photograph of the sign for the Amsterdam Hotel in Duluth Minnesota.  I just popped up there to see the sign the other day.  I'd say the prices are certainly reasonable, with running water, telephones in all rooms, and a bath for a bit extra! ...and it is just half a block from this sign. 

The approach: 

Surprisingly, it didn't take all that long to get there from home.


Now the truth of the matter.
 

In actuality, the sign is quite nearby -- about 12 miles from my house, in fact.

[What? Please explain, Bucky ]

Well the sign is really located in Greenville South Carolina (about 1177 miles from Duluth), and was painted on an old manufacturing building around 2007 for the movie Leatherheads, shot, in part, in Greenville.

The movie is set in 1925 Duluth, and is a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of America's nascent pro-football league.  Dodge Connolly (played by George Clooney) is a charming, brash football hero who is determined to guide his team, the Duluth Bulldogs, from bar brawls to packed stadiums.  But after the players lose their sponsor and the entire league faces certain collapse, Dodge convinces a college football star and war hero Carter Rutherford (played by John Krasinski) to join his ragtag ranks. 

Here is the movie trailer.  

The hotel sign is located within view of the Swamp Rabbit Rail-to-Trail, but you  can go right up to it as I did at 111 Welborn Street between Willard and S. Hudson Streets. 


This is a picture of the Vance Hotel in Statesville, NC that was used in the movie to represent the Amsterdam.

Elsewhere in the movie, Clooney rides his 1918 Indian motorcycle up to the 1924 Poinsett Hotel which is still open in Greenville. 

From the movie:

Interestingly, the 1918 Indian motorcycle is not vintage, but rather a custom-built electric-powered replica.  It was fabricated in El Segundo California at Customs By Eddie Paul.  Why electric, you ask?  The Leatherheads script required a functional vintage-looking motorcycle that could be ridden and operated by the actors during recording of dialogue.  Thus the need for a quiet motor.


Leatherheads Links:

• Internet Movie Database (IMDb) info. 
• Wikipedia article.  
• Stills of the electric "Indian" Motorcycle. 

2.

The next odd sight is the head of a bear, also in Greenville -- and not in the zoo, by the way.

Here it is. 

Looks like a bear's head, right?  Looking right at you.  Snarl on his mouth.  Rounded ears. Right? 

Take a closer look.

Now do you see it?  It's a bear.  Correct? 


Actually, it is a burl on a tree on Richland Way which parallels Richland Creek.  About here on this map:  34.850730, -82.383861

The bear from a different angle. 

Looking right out of the tree, he is. 

In the creek nearby, there are a number of concrete footings for a railroad trestle that stood here from 1886 to 1991. 

You have to look over top of the lush kudzu growing along the bank here to see the footings at this time of year. 

The trestle that once sat on the footings served the former CSW railroad, and looked like this.  The railroad right-of-way paralleled Traxler Street, visible to the east on the map cited above. 

The Swamp Rabbit Trail may be extended on the former railroad right of way, requiring a new bridge to be erected across Richland Creek ravine to replace the wooden trestle. 



So, there were two odd sights today, both in the city of Greenville.

What kind of odd sights have you seen in your two-wheeled travels?



See more Odd Sights I've Seen by clicking "odd sights" here or on the left side of the page.
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Celebrate our freedom symbolized by this wonderful banner.

...and keep this in mind,that Winston Churchill, in the U.K. House of Commons, November 11, 1947, had this to say: 

Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…

Churchill clearly did not originate this famous remark about democracy, but it is certainly true. 

It is good to remember that about our form of government amidst this world of chaos.   Remind your kids, too, that their freedom depends on it.


References:

• Comments by Richard F. Langworth, writer and historian on Churchill.  Be sure to read the comments as well. 
• The History of Flag Day

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Your Favorite Bucky's Ride Postings

Blogger keeps statistics on the number of views each blog posting gets over time.  Unfortunately, the counter can't differentiate between bots that hit on a posting and human hits, so the numbers have to be taken with a healthy grain of salt.

Anyway, with that caveat, here are the postings having the greatest number of views among the almost 300 postings on Bucky's Ride. 

All time, since the first posting on January 25, 2009
(I bought the bike in September of 2007):

·        Visit to the Deeley Motorcycle Exposition
Aug 22, 2010

·        Valve Clearance Adjustment Tips
Feb 4, 2012

·        Wheels Through Time
Oct 15, 2010

·        Mapping Your Route: A Better Alternative to Google...
Apr 24, 2015

·        Dressing for Cold Weather Riding
Nov 26, 2009

Month Ending June 5, 2018

·        Odd Sights I've Seen
Apr 30, 2018

·        Mapping Your Route: A Better Alternative to Google...
Apr 24, 2015

·        Valve Clearance Adjustment Tips
Feb 4, 2012

·        Unused Tread Width -- aka Chicken Strips!
Jun 14, 2014

·        Skyuka Mountain Road
Sep 22, 2013

Week ending June 5, 2018

·        Skyuka Mountain Road
Sep 22, 2013 

·        Unused Tread Width -- aka Chicken Strips!
Jun 14, 2014

·        A Very Twisty Road and a Downhill Technique Tried
May 17, 2010

·        Old Mill at Newry -- Off the Beaten Path
Feb 10, 2011

·        Piedmont South Carolina -- Mill Town
Jan 29, 2010

See whether some of these also become your favorites. 

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